A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor, a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Corps of Cadets Changing with Times

By Nigel Hatton,
University Relations intern

Spectrum Volume 17 Issue 16 - January 19, 1995

The Virginia Tech Corp of Cadets (VTCC) has undergone many
changes since its inception in the last century. Today, the
organization continues to offer students the opportunity for
leadership skills, discipline and a quality education.

"The biggest change we've made is in the way we train," said
Ret. Major General Stanton R. Musser, commandant of the Corp of
Cadets. "We now use positive reinforcement-taking what they have,
what they've learned from their background and building on that-
rather than tearing them down and building them in our own
image."

When Tech-then the all-male Virginia Agricultural and
Mechanical College-first opened its doors, every able-bodied
student was a member of the Corps.

Participation in the Corps became voluntary in the fall of
1964, dropping enrollment in the program immensely. Women were
admitted to the Corps in the fall of 1973 as a separate unit
called Squadron L. In February 1979, women were fully integrated
into the program.

Tech and Texas A&M University are the only two schools in
the nation that couple a full-time Corps of Cadets with a large
civilian student body.

Musser said many land-grant universities started out with
Corps of Cadet programs similar to Tech's. "Others finally
decided it was too much to keep going. Their universities were
growing," he said. "There wasn't that pride and ownership of
their Corps like Tech and Texas A&M have."

While Musser is pleased with the VTCC's ability to endure
over time, he continues to reach for new heights. "One of them is
to build the Corps back up to 1,000 cadets by the year 2000," he
said. This fall, the VTCC began with 136 new cadets and a total
enrollment of 417. An incoming class of 400 cadets is needed each
year to maintain a VTCC of 1,000 cadets, he said. Factors such as
scholarships and alumni support make the idea of a 1,000-member
VTCC an attainable goal, Musser said.

"The Corps Alumni Association is strong and they want to see
this continue," he said. "And so does our administration-
President Torgersen and Dr. Goodale are strong supporters of the
Corps. If you lose the backing of your administration, it's hard
to maintain a Corps of Cadets."

Not even budget cuts worry Musser. "We've taken the same
budget cuts everyone else has, but my budget has been very small.
The Corps Alumni Association has really picked up the ball with a
$5-million endowment goal for scholarships for freshman," he
said. "The budget cuts we've taken from the state, the alumni
association has supplemented."

R.B. Pamplin Sr. and R.B. Pamplin Jr. have pledged to match
each of the next million dollars pledged towards the $5-million
goal, Musser said. "If it's matched by other alumni, we'll be up
to $4 million of the $5 million we're trying to get."

Although money and alumni support can help bring new cadets
to the university, another philosophy is necessary to keep the
students in uniform. Corps life requires 7-11 p.m. study halls,
wearing a uniform every day, and proper time management. "It's
probably the hardest Corps to stay in," Musser said. "You're
going to class with people in jeans and shirts. "At VMI or the
Air Force Academy-you quit there and you have to quit the
university or the school," he said. "Here it takes a sort of
fortitude."

Musser said new cadets have the option to leave the program
after six weeks. "This is the best year for retention since I've
been here," he said. "Normally we lose 25 percent of the freshman
the first semester. Right now, we've lost less than 15 percent.
That's really good."

Musser said the benefits for remaining in the VTCC are
endless. "Every person who graduates from this Corps of Cadets
gets a job," Musser said. "They have had some experience in
leadership."

Most of cadets in the VTCC are enrolled in ROTC programs
with either the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines. They are on
track to become either active-duty or reserve officers in the
military, Musser said. "Some stay for a career," he said. Others
honor their commitments and return to civilian life. "Each of the
ROTC's differ on commitments, some four years, some five," he
said. Twenty-five percent of Corps members are not enrolled in
the ROTC, according to Musser. Tech is the only institution that
allows a non-ROTC student to enroll in the Corps. Musser said the
students do it for the leadership training. He and the ROTC's
eventually want to establish a leadership-development minor at
the university. It would be awarded to students enrolled in the
Corps. "The Corps experience itself is a part of it," he said.
"If you graduate from here with a minor in leadership, that's
going to look tremendous on a resume."

Musser hopes to make the Corps an entire leadership program,
he said. When new cadets arrive as freshman in the fall, Musser
said they become "total followers." As sophomores, they are given
additional responsibility and opportunities to lead, he said. By
the junior year, cadets are non commissioned officers-"sergeants
who end up being squad leaders and actual trainers of new cadets.
Senior year, as an officer, you run an entire regiment with
guidance from myself and deputy commandants," he said.

Although Corps life is very time consuming, Musser said
cadets are urged to participate in other organizations throughout
the university. He wants civilian students to become aware of the
Corps and its importance to the university, he said. "We're
pushing involvement in sororities, frats, SGA, and other social
things," he said. "Cadets are resident advisors. Three years ago
we made an attempt to get in the RA business so we'd intermingle
with other students."

One aspect of the Corps students are already familiar with
is the Highty Tighties. The band is the largest of the Corps'
nine companies. It consists of 75-80 members, while other
companies have about 50 cadets, Musser said. The Highty Tighties
date back to 1883 and have played in parades and band festivals
around the country. In April the group participated in the Cherry
Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C., and the Azalea Festival in
Norfolk. "It's a great recruiting tool," he said.

Musser said he is satisfied with all the positives happening
for the Corps these days. His theme of leadership has been well
received, and recruiting efforts are on the rise.